Hi.

Oct 16 5 SIMPLE REASONS YOU HAVEN'T FOUND THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

As an makeup artist & esthetician that moonlights in a retail setting, we get a lot of gals coming in in search of…. The PERFECT foundation.

But have you ever wondered why you can't ever seem to find the perfect one? Hey I can’t fault you, I’m on the same quest myself.

A lot of you gals are having issues with what you're currently using and with a bit of detective work, we can help you find our why you haven't found the perfect foundation.

So why have you not found the right foundation? Maybe it's YOU!Yep, you read that right, I’m blaming YOU!

Stick with me here and I'll teach you what may be holding you back.

I DON'T WASH MY FACE PROPERLY

You may not think that cleansing your skin improperly could lead to bad foundation. Guess what? It does! Here are some great tips to keep in mind when cleansing your skin.

>>Double CleanseYou need to wash your face and wash it twice. It’s called a double cleanse, you can thank me later. Start today. Unless you are super sensitive and skin can't handle the manipulation, cleanse once and then cleanse again.

>>Don’t sleep in your makeup. Ever. Makeup wipes are NOT an interchangeable option to washing your face. You'll be asking for trouble if you do.If you’re stranded in the wilderness and have a pack of wipes on you, then by all means use them, otherwise you need to wash your face properly and not rely on these handy tools as a daily routine.

>>Choose a cleanser suited for your skinWash it with a cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin. If it feels dry or tight upon washing, you’re using the wrong product, find something milder.

Sonia Says:Research some these cleansers to see if they will work for you.. Christa loves the Burt's Bees & Peter Thomas Roth. I am really loving the Avalon Organics Co Q 10. Hada Labo is a nice one too.

I HAVE ACNE! NOT!

Women of all ages perceive a single solitary zit on their face as having acne. No girl no!

I have news, a zit isn't acne so calm the fuck down. Stop throwing Napalm at your entire face in an attempt to clear up said uninvited guest(s). What you are experiencing is a breakout and confusing it with acne.

If you’re experiencing frequent breakouts or legit acne, a licensed Esthetician or Dermatologist can help you sort it out...a teenage girl working at Walgreens probably isn't going to help you out. I know it seems like a big ol' pain in the ass but it's worth it to seek the advice of a pro. Sometimes you will find estheticians like myself working in a retail setting, so ask them before you proceed.

Cocktailing an entire drugstore’s acne products over your entire face is only going to make your face angry and launch it into full freakout mode. You’re being detrimental to your skin. So knock that crap off right now if you don't want 5 more zits coming to it's funeral.

Here is a pro makeup tip: DO NOT cake 5 faces worth of foundation on, trying to cover up their punk asses. Only cover what needs to be covered and use concealer, THAT’S what it’s for.

I DON'T KNOW MY SKIN TYPE

It’s pretty crucial to know this bit of information when shopping for foundation and skincare. Textures of foundation is just as important as the color.

A good esthetician (finding one is the key) will know upon looking at your face, others won’t, so you need to find out if you don’t know what skin type you actually have. If you are still frustrated, ask your dermatologist. Everyone should have one they can consult with.

A good facialist will always ask you a battery of questions. Skin can be a sliding scale, depending upon the time of year or if you have a lot of things going on. Remember that skin changes with the seasons so it's a good idea to change foundation "textures" with any extreme climate changes.

For example: I have hyper sensitive, combination, dehydrated skin that can also have completely normal days in summer. But in the winter it's super dry and sensitive. Keep in mind your climate too when deciding what type of skin you have each season.

Discovering what type of skin you actually have will save you lots of money and make your makeup routine that much easier. (And you will love the results.)

LISTENING TO THE INTERNET

The "I Picked This Product Cuz My Favorite YT'er Loves It"

Oh girl. You should be bitch slapped a la Joan Collins Dynasty style and slapped HARD! Wake up from your iPad daze and get back to reality!

What’s being hyped by your dearly beloved YouTube Beauty Guru (or friend), may not work for you… Sorry dear girl, find another product (like the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecters) to represent your adoration for said girl crush. We love them too but not to take all their advice literally.

Unless the YT'er is a licensed esthetician, be careful what you hear. Be sure to read the product description and be sure it actually works for you. Suggestions are great, but dig deeper to be sure it's a good fit for you.

What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Remember that beauty is not one size fits all.

Your skin texture, coloring and type may be completely different than your friend. DO NOT be one of those girls who clings to the fantasy that the brand you want to try may end up making you looking like a bad episode of the Real Housewives. Unless that's the look you're going for and then by all means proceed.

You are not a Jedi and you cannot "will" the wrong color or formula to be right one once you get it home. If you don’t want to waste your time or money, it’s a futile endeavor. Listen to a pro! You will thank us later.

Sonia Says: One of our favorite luxury foundations on the planet...save these for those special occasions...will one of these work for you? Great for our over 40 skin gals with dry, dehydrated skin. Also great for normal skin with slight imperfections.

I Only Wear __XXX____

You have only worn __XXX___ brand your entire life. Try branching out. It's ok. We won't tell. You didn’t sign a marriage contract or swear a blood oath that God would kill a kitten if you tried something different.

Be ready to face the world and live dangerously dear girl. Once you find one that works, it's ok to change every now and then as new things come to the market.

You do want to find the right foundation don't you?

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you are not guilty of one or some or all of the above, then I’m willing to concede your foundation of choice is just a big fat fail, am I right?

Some foundations though are just shit, be it high end or bargain basement. Sometimes, through no fault of your own it just didn’t work for you. It happens. Don't be upset. We have all been there.

Sometimes you are recommended the wrong formula by a crackpot counter girl / friend / guru. Sometimes you’re recommended a product by someone knowledgeable and it still didn’t work for you. The plausibilities of why it didn’t work are endless, if we’re being honest. However if you take the tips as stated above I bet your next foundation will be out of this world with a little work on your part.

In closing, remember that your foundation application is only going to be as good as the skin that’s underneath it and the prep work that goes into the application. Be open minded, Bare Minerals, Mac and Clinique are not the be all / end all in the realm of foundations.

There is a great big world of foundations out there just waiting to be discovered.